We're going to need a bigger rod! Fishermen make an impressive catch when their bait lures a dogfish which in turn got snapped up by a SHARK

Researchers caught more than they bargained for during a search for shark data on Friday.

While they were out trying to capture sand tiger sharks that have data tags attached that provide valuable information about the species, they did get their intended target.

They also caught an 'unlucky' dogfish as well, in a stacking dolls moment with fatal consequences.

Nesting fish: A dogfish went after a menhaden fish that was being used as bait, but little did he know that a sand tiger shark was on it's tail and all three fish ended up on the researcher's line in Delaware Bay

Researchers from Delaware's ORB Lab used a menhaden fish as bait, intended to lure in the shark with said data tag.

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A dogfish went for the baited menhaden just as a sand tiger shark was going for him.

The stunned researchers saw the violent side of the animal kingdom at work when the sand tiger shark swallowed the 3 foot dogfish whole.

Bait: A menhaden (like this one) was used to lure in a shark by researchers looking to take data from a tag embedded in the shark

Sneaking in: Rather than a shark, a 3-foot smooth dogfish (like this one) went for the bait

Biggest winner: Little did the dogfish know, but a sand tiger shark (like this one) was right behind it and proceeded to swallow the dogfish whole

'We caught one large female on our first line Friday, but we were not expecting to catch her like this!' the researchers wrote next to the photo they posted on Facebook.

This research expedition took place in the Delaware Bay, where sand tiger sharks are regular visitors.

The sharks, which can grow to be nearly 10 feet long, are coastal apex predators but not known to be the deadliest of animals when it comes to humans, as there are no known fatalities involving sand tiger sharks.